US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the Afghan defence minister and his army chief resigned in the wake of the attack. By the end, at least five attackers were killed and one was arrested, Afghan army spokesman Abdul Qahar Araam said. The country observed a national day of mourning on Sunday for the more than 100 soldiers who were killed in the attack.
They have been known to minimize casualties in such attacks in the past, and some local officials have put the number of dead alone as high as 130.
Taliban Spoksman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for Monday's attack in a text message to media organizations, saying militants had targeted "a mercenary forces center".
The attack happened on Friday at an army base near Mazar-e Sharif.
"For example, any weapons being funneled here from a foreign country would be a violation of worldwide law unless they're coming through the government of Afghanistan for the Afghan forces, and so that would have to be dealt with as a violation of global law".
Many internet commentators had called for the resignation of defence minister Abdullah Habibi and the commander of the 209th Corps stationed at the base. "It is an intelligence war and a war on terrorism".
"Let's face it, no matter how many troops you may send to Afghanistan, it's going to be very hard to end the war".
It is not clear exactly how many soldiers died.
Shortly after Mattis landed, militants carried out a suicide attack aimed at a joint US-Afghan military base in the southeastern province of Khost, officials said.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic knee injury could threaten United future
If they are safe thinking and they are surrounded by people with the same mentality they have, it is more time, more cautious. United did not give a specific timeline for recovery and said that both players will see specialists in the coming days.
The bomber used a minivan and targeted Afghan guards securing the USA military base near the city of Khost, according to General Faizullah Ghyrat, the provincial police chief in the location.
Lawmakers in the upper house of parliament also questioned USA and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces to confine their anti-terrorist operations against the Islamic State (IS) and allow the Taliban to carry out more deadly attacks.
Mattis, who last visited Afghanistan in 2013 when he was a Marine general and leader of Centcom, is winding up his six nation trip through the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.
Meanwhile, US defence secretary Jim Mattis arrived in Afghanistan on Monday as President Donald Trump's administration looked to construct its strategy in the country. The Afghan war is the longest in U.S. history but Trump has scarcely given it a passing mention-other than to call the MOAB strike a success-while campaigning or since entering office.
"Oh no, I'm not refuting that", the general said.
Mattis arrived for an unannounced visit as the Trump administration weighs sending in more USA troops to help the Afghans fight the Islamic extremist insurgency.
The U.S. defense secretary will meet with the battlefield commanders as well as the Gen. John Nicholson, who leads U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
From January 1 through November 12 a year ago, 6,785 Afghan national security forces were killed, according to the latest quarterly report of the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction.
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